The Queen Charlotte Islands
and Gwaii Haanas National Park

by nature photographer and ecologist David Blevins

The Queen Charlotte Islands are located about 70 km off the northwest coast of British Columbia with the shallow Hecate Strait to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The remote wilderness of the southern islands is best accessed by sea but weather, tides, and the shallow rocky shoreline can be difficult to navigate. Unless you are an experienced mariner it is better to visit the area on a crewed boat so you can enjoy the surroundings and let someone else take care of the logistics.

I visited the islands in the spring of 2002 and again in the spring of 2003 on board the 88 foot schooner Copper Sky operated by Canadian Nature Cruises. Each time we spent a week cruising the protected waters among the islands stopping to go ashore several times a day. I have prepared a complete list of the bird and mammal species we saw on both of these trips including their abundance. I have also prepared more detailed pages about birds, mammals, forests, intertidal life, and Haida villages.

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